No one deserves to go through life not wanting to smile or laugh because they are self-conscious about their teeth. Luckily, if you are anxious about your teeth, gums or mouth in general, then there are lots of things that can be done to help you discover your smile!

Everyone knows that as part of a good oral hygiene routine it’s important to brush your teeth twice a day. So why is it that so many children under 10 years of age are being treated in hospital as a result of tooth decay?

As well as regularly visiting the dentist, it’s just as important to visit the dental hygienist to maintain your dental well-being. Dental hygienists are specifically trained to look after the health of teeth and gums, providing thorough, deep cleaning and educating patients on how to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

Gruesome ghastlies

These mouth issues may be gruesome, they may be ghastly, they may be downright unpleasant – but the good news is that with expert dental advice and extra hygiene care and attention, they are mostly curable.

Women have a 13 per cent higher chance of developing oral cancer if they suffer from diabetes, according to new research highlighted by Ipswich dentist Malcolm Harbour at Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich.

Overall, women face a 27 per cent increase of developing any form of cancer if they have diabetes, while men also face a 19 per cent increased risk discovered the study published in Diabetologia, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

It’s amazing that some people will put up with gum infections, toothache or even broken and unsightly teeth to avoid visiting the dentist. Therefore as well as finding a dentist whose work is high quality, it’s important that they also put you at ease, are thorough yet gentle, and take the time to talk things through before any appointment and should you need any treatment.

We are committed to helping our patients achieve excellent dental health and a beautiful healthy smile that they are proud to show off. We also understand that a huge percentage of people suffer from some degree of anxiety about visiting the dentist. Not only do we keep up to date with the latest techniques and tools so we can deliver the highest quality dental care, we have also invested in learning techniques to help ease dental anxiety and phobia, helping you to feel relaxed and reassured when in the dentist’s chair.

Whilst it may seem that there’s not much to your dental appointments, it’s not just a case of making sure your teeth are still in good condition. In fact there are a myriad of things we check and assess each time you visit us for your check up. Here’s a run down of what to expect.

Most of us are painfully aware of mouth ulcers. For those lucky few who have never had one, they are painful sores that can appear on the inside of your cheeks, lips and gums. They look like blisters and are often raised on the outside edge with a dip in the centre.

No one is 100% sure what causes mouth ulcers, explain the dentists at Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich, but we do know that they hurt. The inside of the mouth is one of the most sensitive and tender areas of the body. Mouth ulcers can catch on our teeth, rub when we speak, become inflamed when we eat and irritated when we drink.

British adults are spending £196 a year looking after their smile by purchasing oral health care products

British adults are spending £196 a year looking after their smile by purchasing oral health care products, according to the results of a nationwide survey.

An investigation by the Oral Health Foundation, looking at the spending power of more than 2,000 people from across the UK, found that we are spending an average of £16.34 on products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, interdental brushes and sugar free chewing gum each month.

As the number of people visiting a dentist continues to rise and with treatments such as tooth whitening becoming more popular, the population is now placing a much greater emphasis on good oral health. As an advocate of preventive dentistry and healthy teeth for life, this is music to the ears of Ipswich dentist Malcolm Harbour from Harbour Dental Care.